The World's Largest Computer in 1951

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the ENIAC, the world's first general-purpose electronic computer, which stood 10 feet tall, occupied 1,000 square feet, and weighed approximately 30 tons. It utilized over 70,000 resistors, 10,000 capacitors, 6,000 switches, and 18,000 vacuum tubes, consuming 150 kilowatts of power. Additionally, the conversation shifts to the Russian Ekranoplan, a Ground Effect Vehicle developed by Rostislav Alekseev, which could travel over 400 km/h and weighed 540 tons fully loaded. The Ekranoplan was designed for military transport and could carry over 100 tonnes of cargo.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electronic components such as resistors and capacitors
  • Familiarity with the concept of Ground Effect Vehicles
  • Knowledge of military transport technologies
  • Basic historical context of computing technology development
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the technical specifications and historical significance of the ENIAC
  • Explore the design and operational principles of Ground Effect Vehicles
  • Investigate the military applications of the Ekranoplan
  • Learn about the evolution of computing technology post-ENIAC
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for historians, technology enthusiasts, and engineers interested in the evolution of computing and transport technologies, particularly those focused on military applications and early electronic devices.

  • #1,561
the north star
 
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  • #1,562
yomamma said:
the north star
Correct. That's a clue.
 
  • #1,563
wait, the north star is a clue?
 
  • #1,564
Just popped in, honestrosewater, love the "what was its". I'm learning a lot from this thread. Thank you wolram for starting it!
 
  • #1,565
Do I have to repeat everything? :-p Yes, north star is a clue.

I love it too. Does Evo have a guess?
 
  • #1,566
the northern lights...? :biggrin:
 
  • #1,567
yomamma said:
the northern lights...? :biggrin:
No.

Moving from one hill to another, he became his own master.
the north star
 
  • #1,568
honestrosewater said:
Do I have to repeat everything? :-p Yes, north star is a clue.

I love it too. Does Evo have a guess?
Evo has a headache. Evo has had a headache for several weeks and is getting worried. :cry: I will have to sit on the sidelines and watch. Unless someone has some morphine they can slip into my computer. :confused:
 
  • #1,569
Evo said:
Evo has a headache. Evo has had a headache for several weeks and is getting worried. :cry: I will have to sit on the sidelines and watch. Unless someone has some morphine they can slip into my computer. :confused:

:frown: Could it be allergies? That's how the grass pollens affect me. And the strange part is that after 15 years, now Tsu is having problems as well.
 
  • #1,570
Ivan Seeking said:
:frown: Could it be allergies? That's how the grass pollens affect me. And the strange part is that after 15 years, now Tsu is having problems as well.
Part is allergies, part stress, part "old Evo is dying". :cry:
 
  • #1,571
Okay, I have to leave. Here are what the clues meant:
two hills: Holmes Hill Farms and Cedar Hill.
Became his own master: He was born a slave, escaped, and helped to abolish slavery in the US.
"The North Star" was the original name of his newspaper.
Frederick Douglass.[/color]
 
  • #1,572
K...I'm going to go now...ummmm...Evo, you can go...
 
  • #1,573
Although the original from 1927 was lost, the 1928 version survived. It was brought back to life in the eighties with a technology beyond its time.

Mercury
Ant
Hell
Bable
 
  • #1,574
Ivan Seeking said:
Mercury
Ant
Hell
Bable
Are these clues to the thing, or to the "technology beyond it's time?"
 
  • #1,575
Those are key words associated with the thing.
 
  • #1,576
honestrosewater said:
:smile: An A for creativity.
Thanks, Rosie. I was starting to think that nobody was going to get that.
 
  • #1,577
Ivan Seeking said:
Those are key words associated with the thing.
Mercury? As in messenger?

Ant? As in underground worker?

Hel? As in subterranean punishment? Or a name?

Babel? As in a great human project gone awry?
 
  • #1,578
Danger said:
Thanks, Rosie. I was starting to think that nobody was going to get that.
What did it mean?
 
  • #1,579
Mercury? As in messenger?
No

Ant? As in underground worker?
No

Hel? As in subterranean punishment? Or a name?
Holy cow, I should have said Hel, I think.

Babel? As in a great human project gone awry?
yes
 
  • #1,580
Ivan Seeking said:
Mercury? As in messenger?
No

Ant? As in underground worker?
No

Hel? As in subterranean punishment? Or a name?
Holy cow, I should have said Hel, I think.

Babel? As in a great human project gone awry?
yes
All very biblical. But not Adam and Eve. Instead, Adam and Fred, No?
 
  • #1,581
Another clue

Robot
 
  • #1,582
Ivan Seeking said:
Another clue

Robot
Check my last post. I already know the anser.
 
  • #1,583
zoobyshoe said:
Check my last post. I already know the anser.


:smile: Yep, sorry, I missed that.
 
  • #1,584
zoobyshoe said:
What did it mean?
Jimmy Hoffa... Teamsters boss... UAW... 'Detroit Iron'... ends up in a cement overcoat...
 
  • #1,585
Ivan Seeking said:
:smile: Yep, sorry, I missed that.
I knew as soon as I saw the dates. You've also mentioned this a couple times as a "favorite". For reasons that should be clear, the clues took some research.
 
  • #1,586
So the answer is the movie Metropolis. The soundtrack includes songs by Freddy Mercury and Adam Ant, Bable is a symbol in the movie and a song title from the modern soundtrack, and Hel was the name of the lost love of the mad scientist. This was the first time that the concept of a robot was used in a movie.
 
  • #1,587
Danger said:
Jimmy Hoffa... Teamsters boss... UAW... 'Detroit Iron'... ends up in a cement overcoat...
"Found cement" makes sence, but I don't see "Went looking for iron" really applying.
 
  • #1,588
Ivan Seeking said:
So the answer is the movie Metropolis. The soundtrack includes songs by Freddy Mercury and Adam Ant, Bable is a symbol in the movie and a song title from the modern soundtrack, and Hel was the name of the lost love of the mad scientist. This was the first time that the concept of a robot was used in a movie.
Correct! Your turn.
 
  • #1,589
Ivan Seeking said:
So the answer is the movie Metropolis. The soundtrack includes songs by Freddy Mercury and Adam Ant, Bable is a symbol in the movie and a song title from the modern soundtrack, and Hel was the name of the lost love of the mad scientist. This was the first time that the concept of a robot was used in a movie.
What the hell you talkin' about, Willis? Freddy and Adam's parents weren't born when that movie came out, and it was a silent anyhow. 1923 or some such.
 
  • #1,590
zoobyshoe said:
Correct! Your turn.

I'm sorry, was this going to be our little secret? :smile:
 

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